Should parents allow their kids to make mistakes in order for them to learn from the consequences? This is a question that should be answered with much thought and discernment, especially in the context of our sinful culture.
Parents should teach their kids to accept the consequences of their actions. But parents must remember that if kids are given too much freedom to explore temptations, the consequences they face may be more serious than parents expect.
Why it is Risky to Give Children the Freedom to Explore Temptations
It is common for authorities in the field of parenting to suggest extending specific freedoms to children so that they will become familiar with the temptations of life. They believe that children need to be tempted in order for them to understand that their actions have natural repercussions.
In certain areas, I agree with letting our kids naturally experience these consequences. In an area like school, for example, kids can learn the natural consequences of not completing a homework assignment or from skipping class. We may even have to let a child learn the hard way if they prioritize style over substance when investing their savings into a first car.
Unfortunately, in many other areas, the risks of giving our kids the freedom to explore temptations are too great. This is because of the availability and ease of access to sinful and perilous pursuits today. These days, our children should be supervised more than ever, yet they are commonly left unsupervised. Let’s consider dating as an example. I can’t reasonably allow my teenage daughter to ride unsupervised in a car with a teenage boy that I have never met.
Parents must be wise about the times we live in; the cost of blissful ignorance is far too great.
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